An exploration of pizza in and around Rochester, NY, one pizzeria at a time

Friday, December 10, 2010

Bay Goodman, Winton Rd.

The Winton Road location of Bay Goodman Pizza was one of the first pizzerias that I reported on, back in March 2009. I wouldn't call it the original location, since the original was at - where else? - Bay and Goodman Streets, but this was where Bay Goodman moved, I believe, after the original location closed.
I wasn't particularly impressed by the slice I got at Bay Goodman in '09, giving it a C+, though it did have some nostalgia value, as I fondly remembered chowing down on Bay Goodman pizzas in years past.
But I've heard from more than one source that the pizza had improved following Bay Goodman's move a few blocks north, to the intersection of North Winton and Browncroft Boulevard. So I returned recently to check it out.I got two slices this time, a regular cheese slice and a garlic-vegetable slice. Both were built on a thin to medium crust, which on the cheese slice had a slightly charred, leather-brown underside. It was foldable, as befits Bay Goodman's claim to making "New York pizza," and the bottom surface, which was lightly dusted with corn meal, was a little crackly, but not really crisp. The very bottom of the crust had a tough texture, and was easily separable from the top half, or interior, of the crust, which was softer and breadier. The outer edge was formed into a thin, crunchy lip.

A thin layer of sauce had been applied to the crust. It had a rather bland flavor, not much going on there. It was topped by a relatively thick layer of melted mozzarella.
The garlic veggie slice was wetter underneath, presumably because of the water in the spinach, tomatoes and onions on top. It was a little oily on top, which is not uncommon with white pizzas. The slice had a pleasant garlic flavor that complemented but did not overwhelm the other components.
So, has Bay Goodman's pizza changed since the move, and if so, for the better? Well, the crust of the cheese slice was, for my taste, marginally better than the pepperoni slice I got last time, as it came closer to the charred, crisp crust that I prefer. The vegetable slice, on the other hand, was unfortunately soggy. And the tomato sauce on the cheese could've used a little more zing - something was missing there. It may be something as simple as a little more salt or some additional herbs, but I found it on the bland side. Overall, the flavor of both slices was good enough, but not spectacular, and the components on both slices were well balanced.
Still, I can't say that these showed enough improvement over my prior visit to rate a higher grade. With some very minor changes, these would easily rate a B- or better, but these particular slices I'll give a C+.
Bay Goodman Pizza, 620 North Winton Rd, 14609. 288-0730
Mon. - Thu. 11 a.m. -10 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. - midnight, Sun. 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.

4 comments:

Just wanted to relate a poor experience I had here...it'll come across as if it's an isolated incident, but I've been a long-time customer who's been experiencing slippages like this over the last 6 months to a year.

Put an order in at 5:30pm last night for a large pepperoni and 10 hot wings. Showed up 'round 5:50 as I just work up the street. Figured I'd have to wait a bit, but my wait was longer than expected. The delivery guy was in and out at least twice during my wait; and a walk-in was getting her order of wings on the spot. At this point it was 6:45, and if deliveries could go out twice and this woman could get wings, there's no reason my order shouldn't be ready. Although I had been sitting in the first booth, apparently I was forgotten - the pizza had just been sitting there and the wings had been ready to go too.

Had I known, I wouldn't have paid up front at 5:50, and I certainly wouldn't have added a $3 tip on top of it all.

Fearing the worst, I opened the food up in the car, and it was cold. The pizza was *stone cold*. Kinda put a hamper on dinner for the family.

I'm in once or twice a week for lunch, as are many of my colleagues - but I can't keep coming here if their service is going to degenerate the way it has lately. The lunch crew seems to have their act together a bit more than the dinner crew, but to be honest, the last time I picked up an order for dinner without incident was about 6 months ago.

I've been a customer for years, and in the past have talked their place up to whomever I can - but if they're about to lose me as a customer, I hate to think of what's happening with other customers who haven't been as loyal. Guida's and Empire Pizza would be more than happy to get my business, I'm sure.

It's a shame, too - when the service is poor, that's what you end up tasting instead of the pizza.

Ratings Guide

A: great; one of the best this area has to offerB: pretty good; not top-notch, but definitely good, and better than averageC: OK; nothing special, but it’ll do; typical for our areaD: edible; if you’ve already paid for it, you might as well eat itF: downright bad; toss it and get something else